The birth of John the Baptist was foretold by prophets and angels. “I will send my messenger,” said the Prophet Malachi, “who will prepare the way before Me.” The angel Gabriel appeared to John’s father, Zechariah, while he was serving in the Temple. “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,” said the angel, “and you shall call his name John… many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.” Zechariah and Elizabeth had been barren into their old age, and Zechariah scoffed in unbelief. He was made mute, and told he would remain silent until the prophecy was fulfilled. Elizabeth did conceive and while still in the womb, the baby began his prophetic vocation by leaping at the approach of Mary who was pregnant with Jesus. Elizabeth gave birth to John and neighbors asked the name of their son. Unable to speak, Zechariah confirmed Gabriel’s message by writing “His name is John.” At this, Zechariah’s voice was restored and he prophesied, “you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high…” Of John the Baptist, Jesus would say, “among those born of women none is greater than John.” The birth of John the Baptist has been remembered by Christians as a significant feast in the church calendar, celebrated three months after the feast of the Annunciation and six months before the Nativity of Jesus.
Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent, boldly rebuke vice, patiently suffer for the sake of truth, and proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Art & history by Ben Lansing